Antarctic Adventure

Single Supplement: Twin cabins with private or shared facilities are available for single occupancy at 1.7 times the twin price.

2010 Dates: Jan. 11; Feb. 08, 18, 28

Come and participate in the most fascinating and unique Antarctica voyage in the world. Exploring Antarctica on an Adventure Ship is the perfect travel experience for the active traveler. Akademik Shokalskiy was originally designed and built in Finland for polar and oceanographic research. The ship is small, nimble, and ice-strengthened, capable of reaching the nooks and crannies of Antarctica that many larger ships cannot. Every sailing offers an average of three shore landings per day while in the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands. The education program covers a wide range of topics from identifying seabirds to the future of Antarctica. Optional camping, kayaking, mountaineering and cross-country skiing enable you to experience Antarctica in its most brilliant, rugged glory.

Day 1 : Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Your last contact with civilization, Ushuaia, Argentina is rustic, quaint and vibrant. You will be at the end of the world as you know it. If you arrive early, you could hike, kayak or mountain bike. Ushuaia is an adventurer's paradise.

Day 2 : Embarkation Day
After embarkation in the late afternoon, you will sail down the Beagle Channel. Keep watch on deck for seabirds, penguins and rainbows. Over the course of the austral spring and summer, the sun lingers longer and longer, melting snow and ice. Wildlife abounds: chicks hatch and fledge, and pods of whales breach in a deep bay where a calving iceberg has churned up krill, the local delicacy. The natural cycle of life ensures that every expedition is different. And that every expedition is full of surprises!

Days 3-4 : Crossing the Drake Passage
Anticipation mounts crossing the Drake Passage. Participate in briefings and presentations on the Antarctic ecosystem. Then watch for seabirds and marine mammals form the Bridge or the deck, surrounded by the majesty of the Southern Ocean. The first icebergs should appear on the horizon during Day 4.

Days 5-9 : Antarctica
Many factors play a role in shaping the expedition’s progress. We attempt to leave the ship to explore at least twice a day. Perhaps, you’ll feel salt spray on your face as the Zodiac weaves in and around grounded icebergs in Pleneau Bay. You could scramble to the top of a craggy hill for an unforgettable view of an icy chasm near Port Lockroy.

Adventure options - kayaking, camping, mountaineering or cross-country skiing - should be booked at an additional cost at the same as you make your expedition reservations. If you decide that the adventure options are not for you, your voyage will still be exhilarating. Zodiacs will zip you ashore to hike the steep hills of penguin rookeries. You'll negotiate iceberg graveyards past seals floating on ice floes. Research stations and spy bases could be on the agenda. Every expedition is unique. Landings and wildlife sightings are subject to weather, ice conditions and the natural cycles of wildlife.

Days 10-11 : The Drake Passage
The education program continues with subjects that range from the Antarctic Marathon to whales of the Southern Ocean. You can stand topside identifying seabirds. You'll be an expert by the time you enter the Drake for the return journey.

Day 12 : Disembarkation, Ushuaia, Argentina
Breakfast will be aboard the ship. Your luggage will be transferred to the end of the quay for storage. Then we'll transfer you as a group directly to the airport.

Included:

• Hotel accommodation, with continental breakfast, the night prior to embarkation
• Shipboard accommodation with daily housekeeping
• All breakfasts, lunches and dinners on board including coffee, tea, cocoa and bottled water available around the clock
• A glass of house wine with dinner on board
• Zodiac transfers and sightseeing while aboard
• Leadership throughout the voyage by our experienced Expedition Leader, including shore landings, other activities and educational program
• Group transfer between hotel and vessel for embarkation
• Group transfer between vessel and airport following disembarkation
• Rubber boots loan service and complimentary parka
• Photographic Album on DVD, a wonderful memento of your experience
• Comprehensive pre-departure materials, including a map and an informative Antarctic Reader
• All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
• Emergency Evacuation Assurance for all passengers with a maximum benefit of $100,000 per person

Not Included:

• Airfare to/from gateway city (Ushuaia, Argentina)
• Excess baggage charges
• Passport and visa expenses
• Government arrival and departure taxes
• Any meals ashore with the exception of breakfast at the host hotel
• Travel insurance (emergency and medical insurance is mandatory)
• Laundry, bar, beverage and other personal charges
• Customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel

Photo credit: Tom Arban